Bolt machine



April 28, 1936. M J R|LEY 2,038,542 BOLT MACHINE Original Filed June 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Ennentor Mob A51. J. R/Lzy I (Ittorneg Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE BOLT MACHINE Michael J. Riley, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The National Machinery Company, Tiflin, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Original application June 4, 1932, Serial No.

615,368. Divided-and this application February 18, 1935, Serial No.'6,945. In France May 13 Claims.

' effect extruding, trimming, cutting and thread forming operations on screw products.

A, still further object is the provision of a bolt working machine having mechanisms incorporated therein adapted to automatically feed bolt blanks to the machine and to move 'the blanks from station to station in said machine, whereby successive operations may be performed upon the bolt blank by other mechanisms comprising part of the machine and all operationsare performed substantially simultaneously in a single machine.

A still further object of my invention is to embodymechanisms for effecting the foregoing referred to operations, which mechanisms shall be coord.i-' nated and controlled in such manner that high speed accurate production of finished work .pieces may be effected.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic machine for extruding the thread receiving portions of the shanks of a series of bolt blanks, pointing the ends of the shanks and rolling threadsupon the extruded portions, while positively maintaining the bolt blanks in the same consecutive order through each of these opera tions. In this way the lapse of time between any two operations on eachblank of the series re- -mains constant so as to avoid any possibility of agehardening. affecting the uniformity of the product. trusion die during service cannot interfere with the accuracy of the threads rolled upon the shank, sinceas the extrusion die'wears and as a making the threaded portions oval or in consequence the portion of the shank extruded thereby becomes larger, the roll threading dies may be adjusted to maintain at all times a spac ing of the roll threading dies giving the mostv desirablethread and avoiding any danger of v anyway injuring the metal of the blank.

A still further object of my invention is the pro vision of .a novel device for accurately and efliciently bodily transferring 'a plurality of work pieces" in:successive different operations on the work pieces.

Otherobjects of my invention will hereinafter At the-same time the wear of the-exbecome apparent from the description thereof and which description refers to the accompanying' drawings, the drawings disclosing preferred along the plane defined by the line 2-2 of Fig- I .ure 1. I

Figure 3 is afragmentary planview of part of the mechanism shown in Figure land is indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

My invention contemplates a combination of mechanisms incorporated ina single niachine to .effect the performance of various operations on a work piece in a completely automatic manner, whereby the work pieces may be deposited in a hopper and be selected therefrom and subsequently segregated one at a time while positioned in a raceway, whereby a single work blank- 18 automatically horizontally positioned to be engaged by a gripper mechanism, which will transadjacent group of mechanisms, .andstill further to a third group of mechanisms, whereby the distinctive operations of each group of mechanisms may function to perform an operation on the work piece.' The association of these mechanisms to the work transferring and gripping mechanisms is such that three different operations may be simultaneously .performed upon three diiferent pieces of work or-the "operations may be performed-on a single work piece in a successive manner. The particular operations in the instant embodiment of my invention, are adapted to perform an extruding operation on the shank end of .a bolt blank, a subsequent pointing operation which points theen'd of the shank and flpoi'nted end'of the blank.-

.comprise primarily a raceway for work blanks from which segregated pieces may be permitted to escape to a positioning means, which holds the-blank in {substantially vertical position from where it is swung to a horizontal position. I also provide a work transferring mechanism in the'form of a-series of equidistantly spaced,

simultaneously operated work gripper fingers,

which, when; operatedprogressively and inter-- mittently, advance the bolt blank from the hori zormal posltioningmeans to a chuck associated fer the work from one group of mechanisms'to an Themechanisms disclosed in the drawings serves to reduce a portion of the bolt shank. The

' of the machine above the gripper fingers thereafter engage the bolt blank and shift it sideways to a trimming mechanism and thereafter through two successive intermittent, transverse movements of the boltblank the bolt blank is presented to a thread rolling mechanism in an accurately positioned manner, whereupon the threads are formed on the extruded portion of the bolt blank, and the completed article is then permitted to fall into a suitable receptacle. All the foregoing referred to mechanisms have associated therewith suitable operating gears,

cams, levers and shafts, arranged in such manner that all movements of the various elements of the mechanisms comprising the machine can be coordinated in timed relation, whereby accurate high speed reduction may be effected.

To present the bolt blank to the respective chucks which are associated with the extruding and trimming mechanisms, I provide four sets of depending gripper fingers, which are mounted upon a common bar 200, extending transversely chuck centers, whereby the sets of fingers are moved in unison. The fingers are actuated also in timed relation to the actuation of the extruding, trimming and thread rolling mechanisms and the chucks. The bar supporting the fingers is mounted upon parallel motion links, whereby any point in the bar is caused to swing through an arc of 180 degrees. The bar is guided by slotted bracket members 112 and 112a, the latter comprising part of the frame member 84 and forming stops for the bar 200 and the gripperfingers carried thereby. The center lines of the chucks and the bolt operating mechanisms are equidistantly spaced and are in a common-plane with the center line of the bolt blank when-the bolt blank is being horizontally supported at the bottom of the raceway bars 96 on the pedestal of the swinging arm III).

In Figures 1, 2 and '3, the transverely disposed bar 200 is illustrated in various ways. The bar 200 (see Figs. 1 and 3), is mounted upon a pair of links 201 and 202, which are suitably supported by studpins 203 and 204, respectively. The pins 203 and 204 are revolvably supported by bearing brackets 205 and 206, respectively, the bearing, brackets being suitably attached tothe top of the chuck head frame 84, adjacent the inner edge thereof, whereby a plurality of gripper fingers 210, 212, 214, and2|6 may depend from the bar 2" and overhang the upper, inner face of the chuck head frame. The links 201 and 202 are swung through a movement of 180 degrees by actuation of pinions 223 and 224, suitably mounted upon the link stud pins 203 and 204, and the pinions are actuated by a rack 225, which rack is supported in a suitably formed slideway,in the top of the chuck head frame 84, and by a guide plate. 218' extending outwardly from the top of the chuck head frame 84 over the cam shaft Ill. The rack is reciprocated by a fan gear 226, see Figure '1, formed on the upper end of a lever 221, supported on a stud, 2|! carried by a suitable frame (notshown). The lower end of the lever is provided with a roller 228, which is disposed within the groove 230 of the cam memher 229, the shape of the camming surface of the cam member 22! being such as to cause the fangear 226 to impart suflicient motion to the rack 225 to cause the pinions 223 and- 224 \to'be revolved one-half revolution, thus causing the bar 2" to be swung by the links 201, 202, as indicated by the dot and dash arcs 204a (see Figure 1) r and-to cause the bolt blanks carried by the fingers 2"), 212, 2M and 2l6 to be swung through the arcs, indicated by the dot and dash lines 208. The fingers may be of the shape shown in Figure 1 and may be supported on pins 230, which pins are suitably supported by bracket members 23!, the bracket members being afiixed to the bar 200 in any convenient manner. Leaf spring members 232 are attached to the bracket members 23! in such manner that the lower free ends thereof may tend to keep the fingers'in a closed or blank gripping position. The lower ends of the fingers are shaped to permit the spreading thereof when brought into engagement with the bolt blank shank, whereby they may be caused to slip into and out of engagement with the shank of the bolt blank by the forceful actuation of the bar 200 in opposition to the tendency of the leaf springs 232 to maintain the fingers closed.

I have provided chucks at stations A, B and C, which are adapted to firmly engage the shank of the bolt blank immediately adjacent the head of the blank, and the chuck at station A cooperates with the extruding mechanism, while the chuck at'station B cooperates with the trimming mechanism to hold the bolt blanks while operations are being performed thereon. The chuck-provided at station C is merely intermediate in its functionand serves to hold a bolt blank while the pair of fingers 2 are being. swung to the threadrolling mechanism.v It is here desired to 1 point out that the fingers 2l6 are not in transverse alignment with the other pairs of fingers but are positioned somewhat forwardly, as indicated in Figure 3, to grip the bolt blank a substantial distance away from the head of the bolt blank, and thus serve to more accurately function to guide the end of the bolt blank shank into the thread rolling dies at station D.

A description of the chuck and the actuating mechanism therefor shown at station A will suffice for the description of the chucks at stations -B and C, where the mechanisms may be identi-- -cal. In Figures 1 and- 2 the various elements comprising the chuck and the operating elements therefor are shown. The chucks comprise pairs of opposed rockable arms 24' of substantial design and which are mounted upon horizontally disposed pins 2 supported by the chuck frame head 84 on the inner or forward vertical transverse face thereof. The forward ends of the pins-2H (see Figures 1 and 2) are supported by plate members 242, which are suitably bolted to the chuck frame head 34 in any convenient manner. The upper ends of the .chuck arms 24!) carry adjustable chuck blocks 243, the jaws of which are suitably shaped to conform to the shape of the work, in this instance a bolt blank shank. The lower. ends of the chuck arms 240 are provided with friction rollers 244, which are engaged by rockable cam plates 245. The cam plates are mounted on stud shafts 246-, suitablysupported by bracket members 241, the. bracket members being bolted to Mounted upon the studs 246 are pinions 248, which are actuated by a rack bar 249, the rack bar being suitably slidably supported in operative relation to' the pinion: 242 by the chuck. head frame 34 and by brackets 241, whereby recipro- 75 the chuck head frame" cation of the rack bar 249 will cause slight oscillating movement of the pinions 248 and accordingly, the camming plates 245, thus causing the chuck arms to be swung open and closed. The camming plates 245 are disposed at the inner end of the stud shafts 246, while the pinions 248 Y and rack bar 249 are supported at the rear or outer end of the chuck head frame 84. In order to effect the operation of the chucks in timed "relation to the movements of the work transferring fingers, the rack bar 249 is actuated by a suitable cam (not shown), mounted upon the shaft '10.

From the foregoing description of the chuck actuating mechanism, it will be apparent that the shape of this actuating cam and the angular the 'raceways 96 and this'escapement is effected in timed relation to the other cooperating parts of the machine. The bolt positioning arm I80 then swings the bolt blank to the dotted position E shown in Figure 1 where it is ready to begrasped by fingers'2I0.

The four sets of fingers 2|0,-2l2, 2l4'and 2|6 are then swung simultaneously through an are, as indicatedat 208 on Figure 1, by the actuation of the bar 200, whichtimed movement is controlled by the relationship of the cam 230 to the came I83 which actuates the movement of arm I80 and the other cams of the apparatus. Toward the latter part of the arcuate'movement of the fingers 2") from left to right of Figure 1, the'lower part of the fingers 2111 are brought downwardly and are forced to spread over the bolt blank as it is held in position by the bolt positioning member I80, There is a slight dwell at this point in the movement of. the bar 200 and consequently in the four sets of fingers carried thereby, while the extruding, pointing and thread rolling mechanisms are completingthe intended operations thereof at stations A, B and D. The bar 200 is then swung from right to left (Figure 1) and the bolt blank, which has been picked up by fingers 2i 0, is presented to the first set of chuck jaws at station A. A repetition of the foregoing movements then causes the bolt blank to remain at station A, while the fingers 2"] swing from left to right to pick up another bolt. In the meantime, the fingers 2l2 will have engaged the bolt blank remaining at station A and transfer this bolt blank to station .8. The

chucks are synchronized in their movement with the movements of the fingers whereby the chuck jaws will never be completely open when the fingers are swinging. Alsecond repetition of the foregoing operations will cause the fingers 2l4 to transfer the first bolt blank to-station C and,

' as will be obvious, in the meantime the following of the bolt blank. A stillfurther cycle of operations will then position the first bolt blank at station D where the thread-rolling operation takes place. I

"It will be seen that the movement of the bar 200 and of the blank gripping'fingers carried sitioned to be gripped'in the chucks.

thereby will be limited by the members I12 and "2a. These members are slotted and guide the movement of the bar 200 as it swings through its I arcuate path and the bottoms of the slots in the members I12 and l 12a. are so'disposed that they will provide stops. or abutments limiting the downward movement of the bar 2lllland its fingers so that the bolt blanks will be properly po- The links .or crank arms and support the bar 200 are both actuated by the rack 225 and are, therefore, either in alignment or parallel at all points in their movement. This results in the bar 200 being always maintained in a horizontal position and providing a parallel movement of the four sets of fingers 2H], 2|},

2 and H6. 7

It will be understood that in this application, which is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 615,368, only the mechanism directly connectedwith the transfer apparatus and its associated parts is illustrated and described and reference is made to my said copending application for further illustration and description of the entire mechanism making up my improved metal working machine.

From the foregoing description of my invenvarious sizes of work. -It will also be apparent to those skilled in theart that my improved mechanism for transferring a piece of work 202 which tion it will be apparent to those skilled in the from one station to another is also adaptable to various other uses in the metal working arts. Although I- have described the illustrated embodiments of my invention in considerable detail it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention; I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described but claim as my invention all embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

1. In combination, a plurality of work stations, means .for feeding blanks to the first of said work stations and a transfer mechanism for carrying blanks to each of the stations in sequence comprising a support carrying blank gripping means, said support being journalled at spaced points upon a pair of eccentrically ro- I tatable members and means for actuating said support.

2. In combination, a plurality of spaced work stations, means for feeding blanks to the first of said stations and transfer mechanism for trans-, ferring blanks to each of said stations. in sequence comprising a support carrying a.plurallty of sets of blank gripping'fingers, a pair of spaced'parallel cranks upon which, saidsupport is journalled, and means for simultaneously oscillating said cranks.

3am. a bolt making machine, in combination,

,a pair of tools to receive blanks, and transfer mechanism for carrying blanks from thefirst tool to the second including grippingflngers to grip a blank and means for moving said fingers alternately in opposite directions through a path forming a semi-circle with the ends of the positioned on the axes of said tools.

4. In combination, a plurality of work stations, means for feeding blanks to the first of said work stations and a transfer mechanism for carrying said blanks to each of the stations in sequence, said transfer mechanism including a path ' support, a plurality of pairs of blank gripping fingers carried by said support, all of said pairs of fingers being adapted to travel in parallel paths during movement of said support, means I .for moving said support whereby all points thereon travel in an arcuate path, and means for limiting the movement of said support.

6. In combination, a plurality of work stations, means for feeding blanks to the first of said work stations and a transfer mechanism for carrying said blanks to each of the stations .in sequence, said transfer mechanism including a support, a plurality of pairs of blank gripping I fingers carried by said -support, all of said pairs of fingers being adapted to travel in parallel paths during movement of said support,means for moving said support whereby all points thereon travelin an arcuate path, and means, independent of said support moving means, for limiting the movement of said support. a

-7. In combination, a plurality of spaced work stations, means for feeding blanks to the first of said work stations and a transfer mechanism for carrying blanks to each of the stations in sequence comprising 'a support carrying blank gripping means, means for moving said support whereby blanks will be transferred successively from station to station, and means, independent of said support moving means, movement of said support an the blank gripping means carried thereby;

it. In combination, a plurality of. work stations comprising means for holding blanks while work is being performed, thereon, means for simultaneously performing work onithe blanks held at said work stations, for carrying blanks successively from station to station, said transfer means comprising a sup--v port carrying blank gripping means, said support being journalled at spaced points upon a pair of rotatable cranks, and means for simultaneously rotating said cranks. '9. In combination, a plurality of work stations comprising means for holding blanks while work is being' performed thereon, means for simultaneously performing work on the blanks held at said work stations, and transfer means for carrying blanks successively from station to station, said transfer mechanism including a sup- 'for limiting the and transfer means said transfer mechanism including a support, a

plurality of pairsjof blank ripping fingers carried by said support, all of said pairs of fingers being adapted to travel in parallel paths during movementof said support, means for moving said support whereby all points thereon travel in an arcuate path, and means for limiting the movement of said support.

11. In combination, a plurality of work stations comprising means for holding blanks while work is being performed thereon, means for simultaneously performing work on the blanks held at said work stations, and transfer means for" carrying blanks successively from station to sta-. tion, said transfer mechanism including a support, a plurality of pairs of blank gripping fingers carried by said support, all of said pairs of fingers being adapted to travel in parallel pathsgduring movement of said support, means for moving said support to effect transfer. of the blanks, and means, independent of said support movlng means, for limiting the movement of said support.

12. In a machine for making bolts, in combination, a frame having a plurality of tools arranged in a straight line, a reciprocating working slide .said line of tools and means for swinging said support on said pair 'of spaced cranks in timed relation to the operation of the header slide;

'13. In a machine for making bolts, in combination, a frame having a plurality of tools to successively perform different fabricating operations upon bolt blanks, a reciprocating working slide having a series of tools arranged to co-operate with said plurality of frame tools, one of said tools comprising an extrusion die, for reducing the shanlidlameter of a bolt blank and a transfer mechanism arranged to move a 'boltblank from saidextrusion die subsequent to its working therein to the next adjacent pair of cooperating tools comprising asupport pivoted to a .pair of spaced cranks arranged on one side of the line of tools, said support provided with pairs of spring fingers, extending toward and substantiallyperpendlcular to the line of said tools, and means for swinging said support on said pair of spaced cranks in timedrelation to the operation of the. header slide including means for compelling said two cranks to move in unison.

v MICHAEL J. 

